Photographic apparatus for processing film material

ABSTRACT

A photographic camera is provided with a narrow elongated slot in the housing wall through which film sheets are withdrawn, and includes margin guides which extend outwardly from a recessed medial portion of the exterior edges of the slot so as to guide and support the longitudinal margins of the film.

[ 1 June 27, 1972 United States Patent Johnson v a a HML 1 5 9 1 2 0 0O1 3 4 2 54-1 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR 3,165,040 1/1965 PROCESSING FILMMATERIAL 3,416,427 12/1968 [72] Inventor:

Bruce K. Johnson, Andover, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass. 'f'Examiner-Samuel Matthews Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun [22] Filed:June 29, 1970 211 App]. 196.: 50,381

Attorney-Brown and Mikulka, David R. Thornton and William D. RobersonABSTRACT A photographic camera is provided with a narrow elongated slotin the housing wall through which film sheets are withdrawn, andincludes margin guides which extend out- [51] Int. [58] Field of wardlyfrom a recessed medial portion of the exterior edges of the slot so asto guide and support the longitudinal margins of the film.

Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,327,599 6/1967 Murphy.

....95/13 17 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJum I972 SHEET 10F 2INVENTOR.

BRUCE K. JOHNSON ATTORNEYS PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FILM'MATERIAL BACKGROUND-OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tophotographic apparatus and, more particularly, to photographic apparatussuch as a camera which is adapted for processing and withdrawal of afilm unit therefrom.

In photographic apparatus such as, for example, selfdeveloping cameras,it is often desirable to withdraw one or more of the flexible filmsheetsfrom the apparatus without admission of excessive extraneous lightto the housing interior and without excessive distortion of the filmmaterial. Hence, it is desirable to employ an opening or exit passage ofminimum size, and to adequately guide the delicate film material as itis withdrawn from the apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide a photographic apparatushaving an exit passage which guides and supports the film in apredetermined plane during its withdrawal from the housing of theapparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide a photographicapparatus having an exit passage adaptedto prevent forcing of the medialarea of the film against exterior portions of the exit passage duringits withdrawal.

It is a further object to provide a self-developing camera having anexit passageadapted to preclude scraping of the image-forming area ofthe film as it is withdrawn fromthe camera.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A photographic apparatus for spreading aprocessing fluid on a sheet-like material of predetermined width havinga sec tion thereof intermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to havean image formed therein, comprising: a substantially light-tight housingfor enclosing such sheet-like material prior to its being treated withsuch fluid; first means for spreading such fluid onto such sheet-likematerial and for facilitating the withdrawal of such sheet-like materialfrom said apparatus, said first means including second means fordefining an elongated slot through which such sheet-like material may bewithdrawn lengthwise from said housing; and third means on saidapparatus for precluding scraping of such image forming section againstsaid, apparatus whenever such sheet-like material is withdrawn from saidapparatus in a manner that a portion thereof exterior of said apparatusis disposed at an acute angle with respect to that portion thereofdisposed within said slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features that are consideredcharacteristicof the invention are set forth with particularity in theappended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to itsorganization and its method of operation, togetherwith additionalobjects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers have beenemployed in the different figures to denote the same parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a self-developing camera embodying theinvention and showing the film leader extending from an exit passage atone end of the camera housing;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the camera of FIG. 1illustrating the contoured exterior of the exit passage;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the camera taken alongline 33 of FIG. 1; and 7 FIG. 4 is a fragmentary viewof the camera takenalong line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and showing the position of the film at onepoint during its withdrawal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows aself-developingcamera 10 of plastic material, or the like, having aleader 12 of a flexible film unit 14 extended from one end of a filmchamber 16. Leader 12 extends through an exit passage 18 shown, forreasons of clarity, without the film in FIG. 2. Passage 18 is a narrowelongated slot which passes through a castellated end wall 13 of chamber16 such that passage 18 opens, in part, through a planar section 24 ofwall 13 and through laterally spaced protuberances 20 and 22 of wall 13.Each of these protuberances include end portions of passage 18 whichform lip-like margin guides 28 and which are adapted to engage thelongitudinal margins of film unit 14 as it is withdrawn from chamber 16.

In the preferred embodiment, end portions 20 and 22 protrude from endwall 24 and provide an indented or recessed medial area of the exterioredges 26 of passage 18, bounded at its lateral ends by margin guides 28and 30. Hence, exterior edges 26 are generally Ll shaped in the plane ofthe film soas to not only provide an indentation which facilitatesgrasping of leader 12, but more importantly, to support the film marginsfor a distance beyond the medial portion of the exterior edge which.precludes scraping of the centrally located image-forming section 15 offilm unit 14 against this edge or other portions of the housing.Scraping as used herein is intended to broadly include any bending orforceable contact against an edge and is not restricted to contactresulting in removal of surface material.

Preferably, the novel exit passage is designed for incorporation in aself-developing camera such as described in U.S. Pat.

No. 3,113,496, issued Dec. 10, 1963 in the name of W. H. Ebum, Jr., etal., in which film units are adapted to'be exposed and subsequentlyprocessed as they are withdrawn from the camera body. This type of filmunit, shown by way of example in FIG. 3, utilizes a photosensitive sheet31 of film material which, following exposure, is adapted to besuperposed with image-receiving sheet 32and includes a rupturable pod orcontainer 33 of processing fluid 37. As the superposed sheets 31 and 32are withdrawn from camera 10, they pass between juxtaposed pressureapplying members 34 and which first effect a rupturing of pod 33, andsubsequently, a spreading of fluid 37 in a layer between such superposedsheets, This facilitates the development of the latent image recorded inthe photosensitive stratum of sheet 31 and the production of a visibleimage therefrom in sheet 32 by diffusion and transfer of reagents fromthe photosensitive stratum through the interposed fluid. For thispurpose a spreader system,such as a conventional roller arrangementdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,113,496, or non-rolling rigid members suchas described in copending application Ser. No. 655,835, filed July 25,1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,196 in the name of Patrick L. Finelli, maybe employed to rupture the pod container and uniformly spread the fluidbetween the film sheets as they are withdrawn from the camera. Forexample, asshown in FIG. 3, a pair of non-rolling spreader members 34-and 36 may be disposed within chamber 16 adjacent passage 18 so as toprovide a narrow pressure generating gap 35 which is aligned withpassage 18. Pressure gap 35'provides the compressive means through whichsheets 31 and 32. are advanced lengthwise in superposition to effect thespreading of fluid 37 therebetween.

In the preferred embodiment, chamber 16 is formed by a rear section 17hingedly mounted (not shown) to a forward section 19 of the camera body,and clamped thereto by a wire clamp 45 or the like to form asubstantially light-tight chamber 16 for containing'a film pack inposition for processing. In this embodiment, passage 18 is disposedwholly within rear section 17, however, it should be understood thatpassage 18may be incorporated in a disposable film magazine or the likewhich is adapted to be releasably affixed to the camera body and may, ofcourse, be employed in other photographic apparatus.

In a typicalcamera of this type, after exposure of sheet 31, leader 12isextended through passage 18, as shown in FIG. 3 by drawing aconventional film tab 38 through its exit port 39, which positions pod33 adjacent spreader members 34 and 36 such that film unit 14 is nowready for processing. This is accomplished by grasping leader 12 andpulling film unit 14 through the spreader system and exit passage 18. Asfilm unit 14 moves through exit passage 18, it is supported in the planeof gap 35 by lip-like margin guides 28 and 30 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In the novel structure, passage 18 is defined by a pair of generallyU-shaped facing surfaces 40 and 42 joined along each lateral edge by.end walls 41 and 43. Surfaces 40 and 42 are spaced apart a distanceslightly exceeding the maximum thickness of film unit 14 so as toprovide a substantially lighttight chamber, and are aligned parallel tospreader gap so as to support the film in the plane of this gap. Thatis, passage 18 and particularly the margin portions thereof,substantially precludes deviation from the desired plane of movement ofthe film as it proceeds through the spreader members. This is ofparticular importance with spreader members, as shown, which employcontact edges of relatively small radius.

In this embodiment, the interior edges of surfaces and 42 are inclinedtowards the film plane, as shown at 44 in FIG. 3, to provide aconverging angle which funnels, or that is, introduces leader l2 and itsfollowing superposed film sheets 31 and 32 into passage 18.Additionally, the outermost edges 48 of lip-like guides 28 and 30 aredivergently curved out of the exit plane to prevent sharp bending of thefilm if the portion exterior to the housing is inadvertently pulled in aplane other than the predetermined exit plane defined by passage 18.

To avoid any possible scraping of image section 15, that is, its beingdrawn over a sharp edge which can cause deleterious effects such assharp bending or movement between the superposed film sheets,protuberances 20 and 22 are laterally spaced apart a distanceapproximately equal to or slightly exceeding the image area of the film.Moreover, the facing sides 50 and 52 of protuberances 20 and 22 whichform side walls of the recess, are inclined away from each other so asto laterally diverge. That is, sides 50 and 52 form an acute angle withthe bottom of the recess, for example, and provide a gradual widening ofthe recess, or lateral divergence of the li -like guides 28 and 30 inthe direction of movement of the film. Advantageously, inclined sidesand 52 are laterally spaced at their closest or innermost end, adistance less than the image width and at their outermost end, adistance slightly exceeding the image width so that the lip edges, whichbound the recess, diverge to a maximum recess width slightly exceedingthe image width. Hence, this provides maximum margin support whilereducing the possibility of forcing the image area against exterior edge26. To avoid scraping only a shallow recess, for example, one-sixteenthdeep, would be suitable, however, since the length of the passage or,that is, the length of lips 28 and 30 in this embodiment reducesdeviation from the desired plane of movement of the film, the lips areextended approximately three-eighth inch in the preferred embodiment.Although end walls 41 and 43 of passage 18 are not absolutely necessaryfor film guiding, they do limit extreme sidewise movement of the filmand hence tend to retain image-forming section 15 over the recess if thefilm is inadvertently drawn to the side.

Certain dimensions have been indicated on FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 in order toimpart a full understanding of the present invention. However, it is tobe expressly understood that these dimensions are exemplary only and arenot to be interpreted as restricting the scope of applicant's inventionin any manner.

Many different modifications are possible, of course, for example, theindented contour of the passage exterior may be fonned inwardly of thehousing. Additionally, the facing sur faces which support the film neednot form full pladorrn-like areas in the margin lips but merely berelatively thin supports formed by extending the slot through acontoured wall or the like. Moreover, although the novel exit apertureis preferably mounted wholly within a displaceable rear section of thecamera, many other arrangements are possible. For example, the rearsection of the camera, or a releasably mounted magazine, may containonly part of the slot forming surfaces such that the complete passage isformed by cooperation between the rear section and the camera housing.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention herein involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-developing camera for spreading a processing fluid onsheet-like material of a predetermined width having a section thereofintermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to have an image formedtherein, comprising:

an enclosed substantially light-tight chamber having an elongated slotthrough which such sheet-like material may be withdrawn from said cameraafter such fluid has been spread thereon;

means within said chamber for spreading such fluid on such sheet-likematerial; and

means on said camera adjacent the exterior of said slot for precludingscraping of such image-forming section of such sheet-like materialagainst the exterior edges of said slot whenever such sheet-likematerial is withdrawn from said camera in a direction tending to causesuch sheetlike material to assume an angle with respect to that portionthereof still disposed within said slot, said scraping precluding meansbeing configured so as not to scrape against such image-forming sectionat such time.

2. The camera of claim 1 wherein said precluding means include means forengaging respective longitudinal margins of such sheet-like material oneither side of such image-forming section.

3. The camera of claim 1 wherein the interior elongated edges of saidslot are inclined toward each other so as to introduce such sheet-likematerial therein.

4. The camera of claim 1 wherein such sheet-like material includes apair of sheet-like materials of such predetermined width, said spreadingmeans include means for forming an elongated pressure-generating gapthrough which such materials may be advanced lengthwise in superpositionto effect the spreading of such fluid therebetween, and said slot isaligned with said gap for supporting such sheet-like materials in theplane defined by said gap.

5. A self-developing camera for spreading a processing fluid onsheet-like material of a predetennined width having a section thereofintermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to have an image formedtherein, comprising:

an enclosed substantially light-tight chamber having an elongated slotthrough which such sheet-like material may be withdrawn from saidapparatus after such fluid has been spread thereon;

means within said chamber for spreading such fluid on such sheet-likematerial; and

means formed on said camera for precluding such imageforrning section ofsuch sheet-like material from being scraped against said camera wheneversuch sheet-like material is withdrawn therefrom in a direction tendingto cause such sheetlike materialto assume an angle with respect to thatportion thereof still disposed within said slot, said scrapingprecluding means including a proturberance extended a predetermineddistance from the wall of said chamber at each lateral end of said slotfor forming generally U-shaped exterior edges of said slot which providea recessed medial portion of said exterior edges and laterally spacedend portions thereof for engaging longitudinal marginal portions of suchsheet-like material for a distance beyond said medial portion.

6. The camera of claim 5 wherein said end portions include lip-likesurfaces, and the exterior edges of said lip-like surfaces aredivergently curved for imparting a curvature to such marginal portionsof such sheet-like material during withdrawal of such exterior portionthereof at an acute angle to sheet portions within said slot.

7. The camera of claim 5 wherein said protuberances are laterally spacedapart a distance approximately equal to the lateral dimension of suchimage-forming section.

8. The camera of claim 5 wherein facing sides of said protuberances areinclined away from each other and disposed at an acute angle to thebottom surface of the recess formed therebetween so as to provide agradual widening of said marginal engaging portions in the direction ofmovement of such sheet-like material during its withdrawal from saidchamber.

9. The camera of claim 8 wherein said facing sides are spaced apart apredetermined distance such that at the innermost end of said recessthey are spaced less than the lateral dimension of such image-formingsection and at the outermost end of said recess they are spaced slightlygreater than the lateral dimension of such image-forming section.

10. The camera of claim 8 wherein said end portions provide lip-likefacing surfaces extending laterally from said facing sides tothe lateralends of said slot.

1 l. Photographic apparatus forspreading a processing fluid onsheet-like material of predetermined width having a section thereofintermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to have an image formedtherein, said apparatus including a substantially light-tight housing inwhich such sheet-like material may be disposed prior to its beingtreated with such fluid, comprising:

first means for spreading such fluid onto at least such imageformingsection of such sheet-like material and for facilitating the withdrawalof such sheet-like material from said apparatus, said first meansincluding second means for defining an elongated slot through which suchsheet'like material may be withdrawn lengthwise from said housing; and

third means on said apparatus adjacent the exterior of said slot forprecluding scraping of such image-forming section of such sheet-likematerial against the exterior edges of said slot and said third meanswhenever such sheet-like material is withdrawn from said apparatus in adirection tending to cause such sheet-like material to assume an anglewith respect to that portion thereof still disposed within said slot.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said third means include means forengaging respective longitudinal marginal portions of such sheet-likematerial on either side of such image-forming section.

13. Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid onsheet-like material of predetermined width having a section thereofintermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to have an image formedtherein, comprising:

an enclosed substantially light-tight chamber having an elongated slotthrough which such sheet-like material may be withdrawn from saidapparatus after such fluid has been spread thereon;

means within said chamber for spreading such fluid on such sheet-likematerial; and

means on said apparatus adjacent the exterior of said slot forprecluding scraping of such image-forming section of such sheet-likematerial against the exterior edges of said slot whenever suchsheet-like material is withdrawn from said apparatus in a directiontending to cause such sheetlike material to assume an angle with respectto that portion thereof still disposed within said slot, said scrapingprecluding means being configured so as not to scrape against suchimage-forming section at such time. 5 14. Photographic apparatus forspreading a processing fluid on sheet-like material of predeterminedwidth having a section thereof intermediate its longitudinal edgesadapted to have an image formed therein, comprising:

an enclosed substantially light-tight chamber having an elongated slotthrough which such sheet-like material may be withdrawn from saidapparatus after such fluid has been spread thereon; means within saidchamber for spreading such fluid on such sheet-like material; and meanson said apparatus for precluding such image forming section of suchsheet-like material from being scraped against said apparatus wheneversuch sheet-like material is withdrawri therefrom in a direction tendingto cause such sheet-like material to assume an angle with respect tothat portion thereof still disposed within said slot, said slotextending through a wall of said chamber having a generally U-shapedexterior contour such that exterior edges of said slot include arecessed medial portion and laterally spaced end portions extendedtherefrom for engaging respective longitudinal marginal portions of suchsheet-like material thereby precluding scraping of such imageformingsection of such sheet-like material against said apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said laterally spaced end portionsare inclined laterally away from each other so as to forma graduallywidening recess in the direction of movement of such sheet-like materialthrough said slot.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said end portions are spaced aparta distance such that at the innermost end of said recess they are spacedless than the lateral dimension of such image-forming section and at theoutermost end of said recess, they are spaced a distance slightlygreater than the lateral dimension of said image-forming section.

17. A self-developing camera for spreading a processing fluid onsheet-like material of predetermined width having a section thereofintermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to have an image formedtherein, comprising:

a chamber having an elongated slot through which such sheet-likematerial may be withdrawn after such fluid has been spread thereon;

means within said chamber for spreading such fluid on such sheet-likematerial as it is withdrawn from said slot;

means on said camera adjacent the exterior of said slot for controllingthe plane of advancement of such sheet-like material through said slotand for precluding scraping of such image-forming section against saidcontrolling means or exterior edges of said slot whenever such sheetlikematerial is withdrawn in a direction tending to cause such material toassume an angle with respect to said plane of advancement.

1. A self-developing camera for spreading a processing fluid onsheet-like material of a predetermined width having a section thereofintermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to have an image formedtherein, comprising: an enclosed substantially light-tight chamberhaving an elongated slot through which such sheet-like material may bewithdrawn from said camera after such fluid has been spread thereon;means within said chamber for spreading such fluid on such sheet-likematerial; and means on said camera adjacent the exterior of said slotfor precluding scraping of such image-forming section of such sheet-likematerial against the exterior edges of said slot whenever suchsheet-like material is withdrawn from said camera in a direction tendingto cause such sheet-like material to assume an angle with respect tothat portion thereof still disposed within said slot, said scrapingprecluding means being configured so as not to scrape against suchimage-forming section at such time.
 2. The camera of claim 1 whereinsaid precluding means include means for engaging respective longitudinalmargins of such sheet-like material on either side of such image-formingsection.
 3. The camera of claim 1 wherein the interior elongated edgesof said slot are inclined toward each other so as to introduce suchsheet-like material therein.
 4. The camera of claim 1 wherein suchsheet-like material includes a pair of sheet-like materials of suchpredetermined width, said spreading means include means for forming anelongated pressure-generating gap through which such materials may beadvanced lengthwise in superposition to effect the spreading of suchfluid therebetween, and said slot is aligned with said gap forsupporting such sheet-like materials in the plane defined by said gap.5. A self-developing camera for spreading a processing fluid onsheet-like material of a predetermined width having a section thereofintermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to have an image formedtherein, comprising: an enclosed substantially light-tight chamberhaving an elongated slot through which such sheet-like material may bewithdrawn from said apparatus after such fluid has been spread thereon;means within said chamber for spreading such fluid on such sheet-likematerial; and means formed on said camera for precluding suchimage-forming section of such sheet-like material from being scrapedagainst said camera whenever such sheet-like material is withdrawntherefrom in a direction tending to cause such sheet-like material toassume an angle with respect to that portion thereof still disposedwithin said slot, said scraping precluding means including aproturberance extended a predetermined distance from the wall of saidchamber at each lateral end of said slot for forming generally U-shapedexterior edges of said slot which provide a recessed medial portion ofsaid exterior edges and laterally spaced end portions thereof forengaging longitudinal marginal portions of such sheet-like material fora distance beyond said medial portion.
 6. The camera of claim 5 whereinsaid end portions include lip-like surfaces, and the exterior edges ofsaid lip-like surfaces are divergently curved for imparting a curvatureto such marginal portions of such sheet-like material during withdrawalof such exterior portion thereof at an acute angle to sheet portionswithin said slot.
 7. The camera of claim 5 wherein said protuberancesare laterally spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the lateraldimension of such image-forming section.
 8. The camera of claim 5wherein facing sides of said protuberances are inclined away from eachother and disposed at an acute angle to the bottom surface of the recessformed therebetween so as to provide a gradual widening of said marginalengaging portions in the direction of movement of such sheet-likematerial during its withdrawal from said chamber.
 9. The camera of claim8 wherein said facing sides are spaced apart a predetermined distancesuch that at the innermost end of said recess they are spaced less thanthe lateral dimension of such image-forming section and at the outermostend of said recess they are spaced slightly greater than the lateraldimension of such image-forming section.
 10. The camera of claim 8wherein said end portions provide lip-like facing surfaces extendinglaterally from said facing sides to the lateral ends of said slot. 11.Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid on sheet-likematerial of predetermined width having a section thereof intermediateits longitudinal edges adapted to have an image formed therein, saidapparatus including a substantially light-tight housing in which suchsheet-like material may be disposed prior to its being treated with suchfluid, comprising: first means for spreading such fluid onto at leastsuch image-forming section of such sheet-like material and forfacilitating the withdrawal of such sheet-like material from saidapparatus, said first means including second means for defining anelongated slot through which such sheet-like material may be withdrawnlengthwise from said housing; and third means on said apparatus adjacentthe exterior of said slot for precluding scraping of such image-formingsection of such sheet-like material against the exterior edges of saidslot and said third means whenever such sheet-like material is withdrawnfrom said apparatus in a direction tending to cause such sheet-likematerial to assume an angle with respect to that portion thereof stilldisposed within said slot.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein saidthird means include means for engaging respective longitudinal marginalportions of such sheet-like material on either side of suchimage-forming section.
 13. Photographic apparatus for spreading aprocessing fluid on sheet-like material of predetermined width having asection thereof intermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to have animage formed therein, comprising: an enclosed substantially light-tightchamber having an elongated slot through which such sheet-like materialmay be withdrawn from said apparatus after such fluid has been spreadthereon; means within said chamber for spreading such fluid on suchsheet-like material; and means on said apparatus adjacent the exteriorof said slot for precluding scraping of such image-forming section ofsuch sheet-like material agaiNst the exterior edges of said slotwhenever such sheet-like material is withdrawn from said apparatus in adirection tending to cause such sheet-like material to assume an anglewith respect to that portion thereof still disposed within said slot,said scraping precluding means being configured so as not to scrapeagainst such image-forming section at such time.
 14. Photographicapparatus for spreading a processing fluid on sheet-like material ofpredetermined width having a section thereof intermediate itslongitudinal edges adapted to have an image formed therein, comprising:an enclosed substantially light-tight chamber having an elongated slotthrough which such sheet-like material may be withdrawn from saidapparatus after such fluid has been spread thereon; means within saidchamber for spreading such fluid on such sheet-like material; and meanson said apparatus for precluding such image forming section of suchsheet-like material from being scraped against said apparatus wheneversuch sheet-like material is withdrawn therefrom in a direction tendingto cause such sheet-like material to assume an angle with respect tothat portion thereof still disposed within said slot, said slotextending through a wall of said chamber having a generally U-shapedexterior contour such that exterior edges of said slot include arecessed medial portion and laterally spaced end portions extendedtherefrom for engaging respective longitudinal marginal portions of suchsheet-like material thereby precluding scraping of such image-formingsection of such sheet-like material against said apparatus.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 14 wherein said laterally spaced end portions areinclined laterally away from each other so as to form a graduallywidening recess in the direction of movement of such sheet-like materialthrough said slot.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said endportions are spaced apart a distance such that at the innermost end ofsaid recess they are spaced less than the lateral dimension of suchimage-forming section and at the outermost end of said recess, they arespaced a distance slightly greater than the lateral dimension of saidimage-forming section.
 17. A self-developing camera for spreading aprocessing fluid on sheet-like material of predetermined width having asection thereof intermediate its longitudinal edges adapted to have animage formed therein, comprising: a chamber having an elongated slotthrough which such sheet-like material may be withdrawn after such fluidhas been spread thereon; means within said chamber for spreading suchfluid on such sheet-like material as it is withdrawn from said slot;means on said camera adjacent the exterior of said slot for controllingthe plane of advancement of such sheet-like material through said slotand for precluding scraping of such image-forming section against saidcontrolling means or exterior edges of said slot whenever suchsheet-like material is withdrawn in a direction tending to cause suchmaterial to assume an angle with respect to said plane of advancement.